Dead Man Walking: Living By Day, Dead By Night

Madison's body froze. Perhaps it was because she had a knife held to her throat, or perhaps it was because Zane had snuck up on her without her even remotely noticing his presence. What was certain, however, was that he was mad, very mad at her. More than she had bargained for.

This was, of course, resulting from a misunderstanding on Zane's part. He thought the girl might have suddenly turned on him for whatever reason, and was planning to harm him and Elena in their sleep. But when Madison finally responded, these concerns were immediately dismissed.

There was an almost bashful tone in Madison's voice as she explained her reasoning for visiting Zane's door. One that deflated all the tension between them.

"I…. I wanted to talk to you…. About my birthday…. That's all… I'm sorry!"

Zane sighed heavily in relief as he withdrew his blade from the girl's neck. Though he did not have Angelica's ability to determine someone's real intentions, or whether or not they were lying. He did know Madison well enough to know when she was lying to him.

And thus he stashed his blade away and swung the girl around. She was practically crying, and rightfully so, Zane had spooked her beyond her normal limit. But just when the girl was about to break out into tears, Zane flicked her on the forehead, and lectured her on her actions.

"Don't go scaring me like that… I genuinely thought you were going to betray us…"

There was a strange gesture on Zane's face. Well, it was a normal expression for any other human being, but for Zane, it was especially strange. Madison had known the man for two months, and the other girls had known him even longer.

Yet until now, none of them had seen the man smile. Other than Elean when they were both children. But that was nearly a decade ago. There was a slight and subtle smile on Zane's face, almost as if his facial muscles were strained by performing the act.

But it was not a forced smile, as the man pat the girl's bubblegum pink hair. It was genuine, no matter how slight it may be. This smile, which Zane had shown no other woman, and resulted from him genuinely laughing internally over this little misunderstanding, caused Madison's heart to flutter, in ways it had seldom done before.

She lowered her head while blushing in embarrassment. Not capable of responding properly to what she was currently experiencing within her own heart and mind. But before she could formulate a proper response. Zane sent the girl back to her room, escorting her as he did so, while telling her whatever she wanted to talk about could wait until the next morning.

"I know you're excited Maddie, but seriously, now is not the time for such discussions. Whatever you want to say, I can listen to it tomorrow at breakfast. I mean, it's not like the world is going to end between now and then…"

There was an almost whimsical tone in Zane's voice, as if he found the idea funny. Because the world had come to an end so quickly, within the span of a few hours, and his statement was almost absurd when one reflected upon that recent past.

Yet, Madison did not respond, she simply and silently nodded her head in understanding, and closed her door behind her, climbing into bed without even realizing it where she entered a deep state of thought, remembering Zane's slight smile as she fell to sleep with a wide grin on her own face.

After all, nobody would believe her tomorrow morning when she boasted about making Zane smile for the first time in as long as anyone could really remember. Zane himself did not even realize he was smiling, and the moment he left the girl's room, after tucking her in as if she were his own child, that slight smile faded. Replaced with his usual expressionless appearance.

Instead Zane re-entered his room, where Elena was still asleep, almost defenseless as she lie there. Zane quickly unequipped his armor, which went back into his inventory, vanishing from sight in a moment's notice only to be replaced with ap air of black and grey plaid pajama bottoms, and nothing else.

He then climbed into bed, and lied down next to Elena, who, though asleep, clung tightly to him, almost as if it were her body's instinct after subconsciously detecting that her lover had returned to her side. Zane simply wrapped his arm around Elena's shoulder and kissed her on the forehead, before falling into a deep sleep himself, where he was greeted by a familiar face.

---

Zane awoke in the dark chamber where he had previously found the mysterious cloaked stranger. She was no longer wearing the same cloak she had been during their past encounter, but her appearance was still shrouded by a different set of clothing.

When Zane saw this, he paid it no mind, or perhaps he simply did not detect the difference. Like the last time his head was resting in her lap, as she spoke to him in a warm and gentle tone.

"I see you have begun to take advantage of the system and its many benefits. Since our last encounter, you have built a small settlement and established Grim Forge. You have even acquired two out of the five pieces needed to complete the armor set.

You have come a long way in a short amount of time, but if you wish to take on Eliza and the other Horde Kings, it is not nearly enough. Soon Eliza will lose her patience… The protection you have been afford until now, and that which your settlement currently prospers under will be coming to an end.

When that time comes, the might of Eliza's horde will crash against your small and feeble walls. I don't know if you will be able to stand the tide. But even only Walkers remain of that girls' horde, they are not to be underestimated.

If you wish to survive and successfully defend your settlement, you need to raise the strength of yourself and those near you. Only when you have gathered a party of six individuals, whose level is equal to Eliza's, will you be able to take on the young Horde King.

Her might alone is something that an individual awakened being cannot match on their own. Even if they stand at the same level. And though you have eliminated the more dangerous minions among her horde, the sheer number of Walkers still pose a danger to you and your followers.

Increase your strength both in terms of level, attributes, and gear, or else I fear you my c… Friend will not be able to survive the storm that is to come!"

Before Zane could say anything in response to this grim warning, he awoke, and the clock on his nightstand told him that it was morning. Though he was full of questions, there was no time to ask them. Because if what the mysterious stranger had warned him about was true, his settlement's brief period of prosperity and security was about to come to a violent and bloody end.